The New Space Shuttle | Sierra Space's Dream Chaser

[@pipersall6761]

Sawyer, I admire what looks like a shrine to lost astronauts on your back wall there. Well done. Ad Astra.

[@MrX-zz2vk]

Pardon my ignorance please, but what does Ad Astra mean?

[@pipersall6761]

@@MrX-zz2vk to the stars

[@mrdebris1217]

@@pipersall6761 I once read the expression „per aspera ad astra“. Google gives an ambiguous translation, but considering the context it probably means something like „it takes a lot of effort to reach the stars“.

[@MrX-zz2vk]

@@pipersall6761 Thanks 👍

[@MrGoesBoom]

Just think, Dream Chaser was in the running for the commercial crew program but got passed up for Starliner....and here they are ready for their test flights while the Starlemon is still a mess

[@zander_the_space_nerd]

Dream chicer would probably have been flying crew by now if they had received the funding that starliner had.

[@justRD1]

@@paulhiggins6024which one? Capsules and space planes are both older than most of the people in the comments section.

[@steveaustin2686]

Boeing's Starliner came in first (737 Max had yet to fly) and the upstart SpaceX with 12 flights of Falcon under their belt came in 2nd. Dream Chaser was a distant third behind SpaceX.

[@steveaustin2686]

@@zander_the_space_nerd Not necessarily, as Dream Chaser has taken this long for a cargo only version. No guarantee that a crew version would have been any faster, even with more funding. Because crew versions are more complex that cargo spacecraft.

[@oppajoe]

Again. As you’ve said. Starship and dream chaser are doing the same, test flight. How stupid could you be..

[@MickRonald]

I would love to see this land on a runway at a commercial airport, especially one near me (ie. JFK). Thanks Sawyer, everyone providing video and photos, and Kevin.

[@drdoakcom]

I would fly in a spacecraft without windows to get to space, BUT: not being able to see the earth from space (or space at all) will kill the overview effect. I can see "earth from space" from a screen here. But much like being able to touch a thing can make it more real to you or give you a more personal connection, SEEING it with your own eyes is just not the same as a screen. That's less of a concern with flying it or space operations, but it's a big deal for the human experience.

[@Westythe3rd]

So excited to see Dream Chaser fly! thanks for the great video Sawyer & Co

[@SierraSpace]

Glad that Brady Kenniston and Max Evans were able to join us at NASA's Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. We look forward to launching later this year. 🚀

[@NASASpaceflight]

Us too! Thanks for having us!

[@neukin]

Pretty cool vehicle with special ability. Looks it holds half as much return cargo as Dragon. Being able to land at any airport seems like an amazing benefit.

[@goldgamercommenting2990]

Here’s the weird thing “Could it be landing near a runway near you?” Uhhh JFK airport is not ready for that yet… we are still busy since sandy

[@galas455]

As a pilot I would absolutely fly the space plane without windows, the technology today allows us to more clearly see our outside environment.

[@DUIofPhysics]

Then it goes to screensaver :(

[@skinnwalker4515]

Photogenic, for sure! I want this thing to succeed.

[@faisalsvideoworld]

Wow im looking forward to sierra spaces dreamchaser launch

[@traceyleewahlberg6815]

I would want windows and in flight drinks and snacks. Good luck Dream Chaser

[@M_IkeLeBlanc]

Great report Sawyer! As others have pointed out, this should have been chosen over Starliner.

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@CommonTerry2024]

Thanks, Sawyer. Huntsville has been designated as a U.S. Spaceport for this spacecraft, because all of the space companies here can load their devices locally instead of shipping them to Florida. We are very proud of Dream Chaser.

[@wrightmf]

Interesting to see notable shape changes from previous versions of the Dream Chaser. Though this has been in the works for years, my impression is this vehicle has a small niche market. Blunt bodies like Apollo, Dragon, Soyuz, etc. are typical go-to designs. Though landing Dream Chaser at regular airports has unique advantage in getting high priority time-pressed payloads back to earth such as life science experiments where recipients don't have to wait long periods while vehicle being recovered from the ocean. Though wing spacecraft look cool and have low G entry forces but yet it seems more of a niche market. Space Shuttle was heavily used but that was result of post-Apollo govt program first seeking low-cost spaceflight and morphing into govt funded space station. There is the USAF X-37 but that is unique vehicle for specific missions. Anyway will be interesting to see how this program will progress.

[@corrinastanley125]

Good luck Dream Chaser, team space for the win. Thanks NSF team.

[@richardbishop6527]

Tenacity is so awesome as is the company!

[@Ship34Block2]

Wow! A windowless spacecraft! I personally wouldn’t mind, (as long as the graphics were really good from the live camera) Let’s go Tenacity! Thanks Sawyer!

[@schrodingersjet1043]

As an American, I thank you for giving priority to metric measurements over imperial.

[@jeanpierreremond2565]

Perseverance 👏

[@learsiyenoham]

I am hoping we get sonic boom from re-entry that rattles the windows again here in the heart of central FL. I miss those from back in the shuttle days...

[@bat2293]

Correction: Dream Chaser does not have wings. That's why it is called a "lifting body". The parts you referred to as "folding wings" are in fact folding stabilizing fins. They are carefully blended into the aerodynamic shape of the vehicle to create a stable lifting body. A small point, I know... But if you are going to report on Space Tech, get your terms right please. (Subscribed, but not liked.)

[@whingebot]

1:42 Tell that to Phil Dempsey, Technical Manager, NASA ISS Vehicle Office

[@David-yo5ws]

@@whingebot I subscribe to Phil's point of view and I am sure he is well liked.

[@appstate83]

well done Sawyer!

[@MGAFFY]

Slow but steady process on this 20 year project, although technically 60+ year old design.

[@David-yo5ws]

LOL. It's a 13.8 billion year design. You can not change the laws of physics. You can manipulate and tweak some things here and there, but the laws of physics ultimately forces your design. That's why the Russian Buran was so similar to the American Space shuttle. The blunt nose was again another factor of physics. You don't see returning capsules designed with pointed nose cones, they are big fat blunt ablative shields. And also (I found out from Peter Beck of Rocket Lab recently), if our Earth was just a little bit larger or more dense, we would never have been able to launch into space. Maybe a massive rocket could have launched a small satellite, but that would have been the limit. Looking forward to seeing the Dream Chaser fly later this year.

[@BusstterNutt]

G`day from the UK

[@Nowhereman10]

Spaceplanes are back? They never left. Or do you not count X-37B, among others? Also, the tiles on Dream Chaser are somewhat tougher being an offshoot of research done during the Space Shuttle program to improve the tiles called Toughened Uni-Piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-Resistant Composite (TUFROC). Only a relative handful were used on the Shuttle orbiters before that program ended, but X-37B and Dream Chaser benefit by using nearly all tiles that are derived from that and can even use them in places the Shuttle couldn't, such as the nosecap and leading edges.

[@classydave75]

Interesting. The whole craft looks sturdy honestly...

[@David-yo5ws]

As long as they don't have a blowout in Maber 5, it should land nice and cool on the runway.

[@charleslord2433]

Looking forward to seeing space planes returning to KSC's runway!

[@Caroline_Tyler]

What's up with the orange/red areas on the dreamchaser? Is this ablative material or just missing tiles yet to be fitted- if the latter, how can this be the 'finished' dreamchaser.

[@David-yo5ws]

Isn't 5:43 the complete Dream Chaser? I think those were earlier pictures from 2023.

[@Caroline_Tyler]

@@David-yo5ws at 1:13 you are seeing Dreamchaser, mounted atop the cargo attachment (ready for vibration testing) which was touted to be the completed Dreamchaser ready for the vacuum testing. Still seeing a couple of missing tiles and that orange-red coating. %:43 is the same configuration as at 1:13, just from a slightly different angle.

[@David-yo5ws]

@@Caroline_Tyler They look like metal plate inserts. Perhaps attachment points for a lifting jig? Then later they take out the mounts and insert tiles? Not sure on the tape. Perhaps just to cover some holes from foreign debris. Maybe not the 'ready' model for the test.

[@user-fr3hy9uh6y]

Reminds me of early shuttle designs before the DOD got involved. Will it have the dual sonic booms? Can't wait to see it fly.

[@WMW-82]

Raf Manston in uk being used would be good for dream chaser, it was a designated an emergency shuttle runway to land if needed but govt want to destroy which is pretty sad with all its history from ww1 ww2 ect

[@ClausB252]

I remember the sad day DC lost out to SpaceX and Boeing for Commercial Crew. SpaceX has made good but Boeing has not. What a shame. I'll be cheering for DC's first spaceflight.

[@Mitsuolevel]

I can her Chris squeaking when he said space shuttle

[@stevevernon1978]

at 1:55 , please remind me when the Space shuttle UNFOLDED ITS WINGS inside the atmosphere?

[@ferkeap]

Would fly in the cargo version with a space suite 😅

[@SeraphimHanischMusic]

I would want windows. Trusting to viewscreens too much seems hazardous. "Pick up your visual scanning" worked well in Star Wars when someone couldn't see incoming TIE fighters, after all...

[@David-yo5ws]

"But with the blast shield down, I can' see anything." Your eyes can fool you." Oh what a conundrum! Trust the AI enhanced screen or what your eyeballs see through the sunshades. Better start training them pilots on some Jedi ways of The Force.

[@myyklmax]

Sierra Space alao has an agreement for Sreamchaser to have landing emergency authorization at Spaceport Cornwall in Great Britain.

[@danapeck5382]

Thanks

[@aldunlop4622]

Just to give you an idea of how big Starship is, you could stack 3 (maybe 4) of these inside it.

[@odysseusrex5908]

From what I understand, Sierra Space is designing a significantly larger vehicle for their manned variant. I don't understand that, since their unmanned cargo version was developed directly from the original manned version they pitched for Commercial Crew. It seems to me they should have gone with their original design.

[@christopherknox7009]

Mini me space space shuttle. Nice start with some effort but not near the same as the old Space shuttle. Sad we stumbled backwords a bit to the moon lander age. Needs to be larger and updated to do what the older original space shuttle was capable of doing. Would be nice to have when the ISS is retired and we need to replace it.

[@rudivandoornegat2371]

And how would it compare to the Boeing X-37 series?

[@SebSN-y3f]

It's such a beautiful device and such a cool concept (who needs Starliner anymore, although we wish this space craft all the best too). Many have been looking forward to it for years and are happy that it is finally coming soon. But after asking around: unfortunately not many apart from us space nerds. But I think that will change soon. By the way, it's similar to your channel. With so much great stuff coming up, I'm sure you'll be watching more here soon. Thank you very much for your great work. Best wishes from Adrian's homeland.

[@Maverick0f14]

Hope they can develope a c-17 like size of that concept ! Would be the key to create a big orbital port to assemble big interplanetary ships ! Like the rowboat to a ship in colombus age !

[@odysseusrex5908]

2:38 Why is Endeavor the best space shuttle?

[@Qwarzz]

I wonder if Starliner will be ready in time to fly alongside with the Dream Chaser.

[@steveaustin2686]

Starliner has flown 2 times already and the CFT-1 flight is scheduled for early May, once CRS-30 is out of the way. Dream Chaser is still in testing and looks to be sliding into fall 2024 or even 2025.

[@yanniklemm4108]

Let's hope those 2000 tiles hold up better than shuttles. It baffles me that they choose the way of individual tiles after we saw the drawback of that for 30 years with shuttle

[@portcybertryx222]

A tiled approach is still the best way to go as it’s cheaper to replace those than to replace an entire heat shield. And btw Sierra had made a new compound for those tiles so they are mass producing those for selling it to other companies as well

[@bpnn2428]

They launch on top of the rocket so Columbia situation won't happen. There's less tiles and they don't plan to launch every week like initial Shuttle plans, so they have time to check heatshield between flights. I think tiles will work fine for them.

[@yanniklemm4108]

@portcybertryx222 yeah but they could have made at least a effort to have some shapes twice

[@PaulZyCZ]

They are a weak point, but manageable. Space Shuttle had some design flaws, but tiles weren't that big issue. Sure, they were often related to tiles. First the number of them, mini-shuttles have less (there's also Boeing's mini-shuttle used by army). Similarly if a tile falls from Starship, it should survive, but the steel will be damaged, no idea about Dream Chaser. There's the angle, if I get it right, Dream Chaser won't be entering that steep. Space Shuttle had large fuel tank which was covered by layer of ice. Now I remember there was some issue with foam, but also said ice, which both were damaging tiles and caused two fatal disasters. Some claim Buran design was safer, but probably as expensive as the Space Shuttle. Then there are all the extra costs inherited by SLS (side-boosters, main engines, internal parts...).

[@classydave75]

Something tells me they will hold up better than the ones on Starship...

[@rippingbag]

Space Force should buy these as their first spaceplane and start weekly deorbit missions of space debris.

[@portcybertryx222]

They already have the X37b

[@rippingbag]

Thinking a maned version where they can go up, track down debris, and perform targeted deorbit missions. Would be good to do and good practice for them. Also I imagine these could be cheaper to purchase at scale.

[@steveaustin2686]

@@rippingbag Dream Chaser is cargo only right now and plans to use the 6 mission CRS contract towards developing a future manned version. Like SpaceX did with Dragon towards Crew Dragon.

[@erickdanielsson6710]

Plans and permits completed to land at Huntsville, Al airport, HSV . Huntsville is home to NASA's Marshall Space Center.

[@David-yo5ws]

Oh, the perfect excuse to spend hours in the Blue Moon Bar, waiting for the once in a Blue Moon Dreamchaser landing. P.S I am a teetotaler.

[@dominicbendinelli4805]

3:50 Take it back! Florida fog industry can’t be paying you that much.

[@ChuckKarges]

Sound like that would be good to raise the hubble put a arm on itb

[@garyvision3938]

Why does the passenger version need windows? Just use a viewscreen, like in Star Trek.

[@MrX-zz2vk]

I'd want windows. Nothing like an actual real-time view outside the vehicle if cameras were to fail for any reason.

[@iamzid]

well we'll see if having no windows is a good choice. i'm sure the camera system will be well redundant and probably more advanced than i know, but i'd still feel more comfortable if there was a little window i could look out of in an emergency. camera's go out: "welp, i guess i'll just die now."

[@David-yo5ws]

The original Mercury Program had no windows in the first design. The up coming astronauts were shown the first design. After walking around it, they asked "Where are the windows?" I guess the designers figured the astronauts were going to be opening the hatch and space walking, so why have windows?

[@bariman223]

Yes. Sensors and cameras are superior to windows by this point.

[@argentum530]

So cargo only space plane, not man-rated. I didn't catch the projected cost of missions vs. Dragon

[@steveaustin2686]

IIRC, between Dragon and Cygnus I believe.

[@SevenPTSixTwo]

X-37 enters the chat, laughs and then dis-connects

[@steveaustin2686]

Military use only and very secretive. This is civilian spaceflight.

[@MiniLemmy]

Oh dear! 2024 is nearly over and there’s been no word of a first launch of this new shuttle system - I wonder what the delays are?

[@goldgamercommenting2990]

“Could it be landing near a runway near you?” Uhhh JFK airport is not ready for that yet… we are still busy since sandy

[@carloscalim7877]

New space ship bus.

[@Phil-gw9vr]

As someone who lives under the flightpath of a major airport, I don't know if i want an experimental unpowered space craft flying over my house.

[@David-yo5ws]

It's usually just before or just after the runway that seems to be the 'danger zone'. Just how close is your house??????? ( Do you have tyre patterns on your roof? )

[@o_fingers_o]

... and as we know, all good ships have a name . ~ handsome viewer

[@michaelbowers7400]

Season Greeting 2023&2024 season California cool morning yesterday rain at night yesterday. Neat cool wow adventure action 🎬 of Dream Chaser, s fleet of crafts for outter space . Good day say hello all. Wow.

[@ThexBorg]

It looks like the flying wing that the Six Million Dollar Man crashed in.

[@steveaustin2686]

Dream Chaser can trace its lineage back through the HL-20 and HL-10, to the M2-F2 in that $6M Man title sequence.

[@Thisis100real]

This looks like a really cool rig.

[@janchristensen5692]

🎉

[@11B30Inf]

If I was given a choice to fly in the Dragon or Dream Chaser, I will fly the Dragon. So far the Dragon has proven track record, the Dream Chaser has none!

[@steveaustin2686]

The current Dream Chaser is a cargo only spacecraft. Just like Dragon proved the spacecraft for Crew Dragon, the cargo Dream Chaser is for proving towards a future manned version.

[@classydave75]

" So far the Dragon has proven track record, the Dream Chaser has none! " ... No shit. Besides, as already mentioned, it's cargo only. Whether a man rated version will be developed remains to be seen, as it would need an escape system like Crew Dragon. Meaning a substantial redesign of the craft would be required. Will see...

[@TeeTee-05]

Dragon is boring and outdated. But your a spaceX fan so you know nothing about anything. You probably think starship is a good idea

[@steveaustin2686]

@@TeeTee-05 Dragon 2 and the Crew Dragon are the most capable ISS spacecraft that NASA has right now. Since the start of the CRS program, Dragon capsules have taken roughly 2/3 the cargo to the ISS and Cygnus spacecraft have taken the other 1/3. SpaceX were the upstarts in 2014 when the Commercial Crew contracts were awarded, but have surpassed struggling Boeing. It is looking like Boeing may finally get through testing on Starliner with the CFT-1 flight in May. If Starship can live up to even some of the Musk goals, then it may change spaceflight like the Falcon 9 changed spaceflight. Musk has a LOT of overly ambitous goals that won't be reached, like point to point Starships replacing airliners or crew flights to Mars this decade. Crew launches and landings on Starship from Earth won't happen unless Starship can be as reliable as capsules. That remains to be seen.

[@SmoochieRoo]

How does it work? Like the space shuttle How does it compare to the original space shuttle? It smol, and baby Will it be landing on a runway near me? Not unless Santa is one of the customers.

[@TimothyLipinski]

Great Video ! The Sierra Space has contracted the Dream Chaser to be able to land at Spaceport America in the State of New Mexico ! After the one Test Flight and the six contracted Cargo Flights Dream Chaser will be FREE to upgrade to the Crew Dream Chaser ! The Dream Chaser is what the NASA Space Shuttle should have been ! "Capsules and Space Planes to LEO" is Vision 2 of 5 for the return to the moon to stay ! Does NASA have the Vision, the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE / Presidential speech January 2004) ? tjl

[@Randoir11]

So as it is , it's just a bigger cargo pod than what we are currently sending to the ISS with no passenger capabilities until it passes the necessary testing? Who will pilot this shuttle during re entry ? If given the chance , I'd fly to space and back in it with only video monitors showing me what's outside ! I enjoyed the video and want to know more about this next gen space vehicle please .

[@steveaustin2686]

Just like the Dragon is a cargo spacecraft and the Crew Dragon is a variant, the current Dream Chaser spacecraft are cargo spacecraft. SNC plans to use the 6 mission CRS contract to prove out Dream Chaser and develop a future manned version.

[@boyfrmnewyork]

Fly "Little Bird Fly!

[@Astronaut90]

I really htink that the dream chaser is a goog conecpt

[@douglachman7330]

A more usefull mission based on the design would be to assist with the deorbiting of large space debris. With several deorbits per mission.

[@justRD1]

sooooooo, dream chaser is going into service before starliner? wow

[@steveaustin2686]

Dream Chaser is a cargo spacecraft, not a manned spacecraft. Big difference.

[@TeeTee-05]

Nope. starliner is flying next month, dreamchaser isn't flying until at least June

[@steveaustin2686]

@@TeeTee-05 Eric Berger from ARS Technica said that Dream Chaser is likely to slide into fall 2024 or even 2025, as the testing isn't done yet.

[@TeeTee-05]

@@steveaustin2686 damn that sucks. Can't wait to see it fly tho since it's my favorite new spacecraft

[@steveaustin2686]

@@TeeTee-05 I like it as well and it has a lot of promise.

[@internetwanderer8798]

But..... It's just MiG105) Don't get me wrong - awesome engineering is still awesome engineering, BUT look up MiG 105, it is SOOOOmuch alike

[@marlaplunk2833]

why can't they just make the exterior skin of the vehicle out of the same material as the tiles? Why to the tiles have to be external of the skin? There's got to be a way to make it structural - like having a SIP panel or laminated panel - hard skin interior layer, solid layer of whatever they make the tiles out of, and then a disposable exterior skin. Engineers? Someone? too expensive to replace an exterior structural skin that burns away to expose the heat shield solid layer?

[@GreatMewtwo]

What the space plane will accomplish is being a 10-ton 30-foot container.

[@michaelreagan7149]

When this "space plane" can take off from a runway, fly on its own to the Iss or LEO, and land back on the runway, then and only then can it be called a Space Plane! The I'll be excited :)

[@David-yo5ws]

Boy! You have a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg long long looooooooooooooonnnnngggg waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

[@RGC1968]

Where is the "Enterprise"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@larrysouthern5098]

This could have been what the Space Shuttle could have been if they had kep going and then moved up to a bigger version'... Oh well...let's see what she can do..

[@boatsail1]

seems like X-37.

[@scruffyLG]

Those little wings better deploy or your screwed

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

First half of 2024? Did you mean 2025? First half of 2024 ends in three days.

[@jessealvarado2167]

WINDOWS ARE HIGH RISK.

[@kentnebergall3156]

There were/are no vacuum chambers big enough to pre-test the space shuttle, so it went up without that test and with a crew. How many vehicles have there been that couldn't do that test prior to orbit due to size? I'm assuming SLS, Skylab, and Starship. Geosynchronous satellites could probably do it without the solar arrays. JWST was tested extensively, but probably not deployed in a vacuum considering it's the size of a tennis court. So probably kept folded up, if tested at all.

[@debbies24]

Crewed version: I vote for windows.

[@kevinpoeUSA]

I knew the tile was not a flight tile because the first 4 characters are VT70. The 'T" stands for test, so that tile would never have been installed for flight.

[@sdebeaubien]

On Vulcan? Seriously? It's got to be majorly more $$$ on Vulcan to launch than Falcon 9 (or Falcon Heavy). You can launch on F9 for under $75M. Vulcan had to have been on the order of $250M for the first launch, probably will come down to around $150M / launch soon, but with nothing reusable (yet) you're throwing an awful lot of hardware away to get to space. And that's COSTLY.

[@sdebeaubien]

Thanks for this update btw Sawyer and @NSF team! It's scheduled (tentatively I'm sure) for April, interesting.

[@steveaustin2686]

Dream Chaser is part of the CRS contract. NASA wants redundancy when they can get it, which is Cygnus launches on the Antares launcher and Dragon on a Falcon 9. Dream Chaser is the third spacecraft for CRS, so it is on a third launcher.

[@classydave75]

​@@steveaustin2686 Indeed. The constant "muh re-usability and nothing else comes into account" line is annoying. It is what it is...

[@steveaustin2686]

@@classydave75 Exactly. Reusability is great, but has drawbacks. It's not always the best solution. The 'rah, rah, rah SpaceX rulz' fanbois are as bad as the SpaceX haters.

[@classydave75]

@@steveaustin2686 Yes, that's probably the worst part with SpaceX haters, at least, don't put the guys working under him in the same basket. And that's also valid for the other megalomaniac, Bezos... At least the latter is more quiet and discreet. Except when he laughs, I get chills running trough my spine each time...

[@Seafather]

I don’t like the host cynicism and sarcasm.

[@rogerthomas169]

Don't watch

[@classydave75]

Didn't find him cynic or sarcastic. That wouldn't be very serious if that were the case, but it's just a YT video at the end of the day...

[@rstewart7601]

Dream Chaser is great, but the Space Shuttle was an engineering nightmare which killed 14 of our astronauts and should never have been built. It's gone. Good riddance. Get over it.

[@GummiBot9000]

worst coast? kick rocks

[@cossmoor]

the new space race

[@cujimmy1366]

Synthetic aperture radar,and VR headsets mean Windows are pretty much pointless.

[@mstecker]

Cool vehicle … but without a real reason to exist given what Falcon and Starship can do.

[@steveaustin2686]

NASA like redundancy, which is WHY there is a SpaceX CRS contract and a Northrop Grumman CRS contract. With the Russians possibly pulling out of the ISS before the end of the ISS, Dream Chaser can help pick up the slack.

[@classydave75]

For the time being, Starship explodes. And as already mentioned, it's about redundancy first and foremost.

[@TeeTee-05]

First off, you have no idea what your talking about and secondly, starship is awful idea and it should only be used for cargo not crew

[@mstecker]

@@TeeTee-05 let me guess - you have some vested interest in the old space economy that starship destroys?

[@davidcrutcher4208]

Worst coast? What a jerk!

[@rogerthomas169]

Lighten up

[@SodiumEx]

1st

[@NEWEREJK]

Can an astronaut in an EVA suit ride dream chaser back down to earth?

[@steveaustin2686]

Not safely, no.

[@SUKHOI-5]

voc

[@TLBSBD]

Most expensive garbage truck ever! 🤣

[@firstnlast]

Yeah not holding my breath.

[@steveaustin2686]

It's currently planned to launch in Apr 2024.

[@steveaustin2686]

Well, that slid to Jun 2024 and may slide into fall 2024. The testing is still ongoing as of Apr 2024. Vulcan Centaur is also still waiting on two more BE-4 engines from Blue Origin.

[@phil1657]

Did you all check with Jack